MacGameFPS

Is the MacBook Air M5 good for gaming? FPS in 35 games

The MacBook Air M5 (Apple M5, 8-core GPU) runs 33 of the 35 Mac games we track. 22 go past 60 FPS at 1080p High and 31 stay above 30.

It is a fanless laptop: it matches its same-chip siblings for a few minutes, but in long sessions of demanding games it lowers clocks to stay cool. Our figures already account for that loss.

Data reviewed October 1, 2026

MacBook Air M5 (model photo)

18

Gaming score (0-100)

Chip
Apple M5
GPU
8 cores
Memory
16 / 24 / 32 GB
Cooling
Passive (fanless)
Year
2026

Average gaming performance (2026)

1080p

75FPS

48/100 vs the most powerful Mac

1440p

48FPS

32/100 vs the most powerful Mac

4K

25FPS

20/100 vs the most powerful Mac

At 75 FPS on average at 1080p High, the MacBook Air M5 is a good gaming Mac: demanding games need a setting or two lowered, or MetalFX.

Average on High, no MetalFX, across the games this Mac runs.

MetalFX on the MacBook Air M5

Average of the 10 games with MetalFX at 1440p High.

Native

37FPS

Quality

46FPS

Balanced

55FPS

Performance

62FPS

What FPS does the MacBook Air M5 get in your game?

Games on the MacBook Air M5

Estimate

FPS at 1080p High, and the highest setting that holds 60 FPS.

Game1080p HighVerdictFor 60 FPS
Assassin's Creed ShadowsNeeds Apple M1 Max——
Crimson DesertNeeds Apple M2 Pro——
Cyberpunk 207721FPSStrugglesNot reached
Baldur's Gate 335FPSPlayableNot reached
Control Ultimate Edition34FPSPlayable1080p Low + MetalFX Quality
Death Stranding Director's Cut65FPSExcellent1080p High
Hitman World of Assassination71FPSExcellent1440p Low
Lies of P93FPSExcellent1440p High
Metro Exodus54FPSSmooth1080p Medium
Resident Evil 449FPSSmooth1080p Low
Resident Evil Village49FPSSmooth1080p Low
Total War: PHARAOH31FPSPlayableNot reached
Total War: WARHAMMER III28FPSStrugglesNot reached
Frostpunk 271FPSExcellent1440p Low
GRID Legends90FPSExcellent1440p Medium
No Man's Sky71FPSExcellent1440p Low
Resident Evil 271FPSExcellent1440p Low
Resident Evil 355FPSSmooth1080p Medium
Resident Evil 7 biohazard71FPSExcellent1440p Low
Rise of the Tomb Raider83FPSExcellent1440p Medium
Shadow of the Tomb Raider60FPSExcellent1080p High
XCOM 271FPSExcellent1440p Low
Cities: Skylines104FPSExcellent1440p High
Civilization VI104FPSExcellent1440p High
Civilization VII91FPSExcellent1440p Medium
Crusader Kings III104FPSExcellent1440p High
Divinity: Original Sin 2104FPSExcellent1440p High
Final Fantasy XIV104FPSExcellent1440p High
Myst55FPSSmooth1080p Medium
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous104FPSExcellent1440p High
Stellaris104FPSExcellent1440p High
Stray40FPSPlayableNot reached
Valheim104FPSExcellent1440p High
World of Warcraft139FPSExcellent1440p Ultra
World of Warcraft: Forever139FPSExcellent1440p Ultra

Calculated with 16 GB, or with the game's minimum memory when higher (if the MacBook Air M5 was sold with it).

Compare it with

Similar Macs

MacBook Air M5 FAQ

Is the MacBook Air M5 good for gaming?

At 75 FPS on average at 1080p High, the MacBook Air M5 is a good gaming Mac: demanding games need a setting or two lowered, or MetalFX.

Which games run at 60 FPS on the MacBook Air M5?

22 of 35 games go past 60 FPS at 1080p High. Among the most demanding: Death Stranding Director's Cut (65), Hitman World of Assassination (71), Lies of P (93), Frostpunk 2 (71), and GRID Legends (90).

Which games do not run on the MacBook Air M5?

Assassin's Creed Shadows and Crimson Desert: they need a stronger chip or more memory.

How much memory should I get on the MacBook Air M5 for gaming?

It ships with 16, 24, 32 GB. For gaming, 24 GB leaves headroom for years; 16 GB is the sensible minimum.

Does the MacBook Air M5 throttle while gaming?

It has no fan: in long sessions of demanding games it lowers clocks and loses up to 20% of sustained performance. Our figures already account for it.

Ranking of every Mac for gaming →